Pro Automotive Rig Shot post, breakdown, and review thread

One of the things I always hear from pro photographers is that one of the best ways to learn how to shoot great photographs is to look at and study great photography (one of the reasons we share our photography here with each other). That and shoot, shoot, shoot.....

I thought this would be a good spin off of the Automotive Rig thread for people interested to post pro rig shots they find so we can review them, learn technique, rig composition, and possibly figure out how the more professional rigs are possibly built.

Here are some recent shots I noticed from the Ford Taurus SHO Media package:

And here are some very artistic rig shots from the original Ford Taurus launch. I'm guessing by the look of some of these shots they were practically studio shots out on the street. Big time lighting with huge screens and such, beautiful stuff:

Some nice shots put Ford probably isnt the best company to use as an example, over the last year a lot of their european and some US adverts have been digitally rendered using ARTVPS. It is ultra-realistic often some of their more unique and interesting shots are renders not physical cars.

Shot 2 - Dark shadow to the left of the car, so the light source is on the right of the frame... but then how is it that the highlights are on the radiator grill, and along what should be the dark side of the car? The wheels are really shiny too... but if fill flash was used there, then the highlights on the paintwork have been edited out. The light sources just seem to be all over the place... it just doesn't make sense.

The time, cost, and effort to set up a shot using probably 5 or 6 strobes on a moving target is just far too much compared to getting a retoucher to composite a couple of pictures, or just retouch a picture that has been taken badly or not with the desired effect.

I can't remember who posted it up before, but there was a video of someone editing Porsche photos for a website, and the transformation was huuuuuuuuuuge!! Just goes to show that you can do almost anything in Photoshop.

Detroit is a HUGE photoshop town. They have been shooting cars in studios and placing them on backgrounds for a LONG time. Look close at some and you will see cars in sand...... but no tire tracks, or sand on the tires. Or in grass, but no grass has been flattened by 4000 pounds of car. I have no doubt that these are static shots with the motion added later.

Photoshoppery I say!!!!... The time, cost, and effort to set up a shot using probably 5 or 6 strobes on a moving target...

It's not so much the cost. 40 years ago we were getting $1,000 per 8X10" transparency + expenses. It was about getting the cars in the best light before the agency guys stripped them & made changes to suit their "vision". (And add to their billing.) So I don't feel at all bad PSing my images on my $500 computer.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #7316962It's not so much the cost. 40 years ago we were getting $1,000 per 8X10" transparency + expenses. It was about getting the cars in the best light before the agency guys stripped them & made changes to suit their "vision". (And add to their billing.) So I don't feel at all bad PSing my images on my $500 computer.

In terms of cost, I meant in order to get that picture working with strobes. How many attempts would it take to get that kind of picture with a moving subject, even at a slow speed? I could spend days there (and still come away with rubbish)

For me, I want to see a good picture with minimal post-processing work. From that video link I mentioned about the Porsches, the basics of Photography just weren't there - wrong white balance, bad lighting position, etc. Although I appreciate Photoshop as a tool, and the power it has, I believe in a better photo to begin with. There are people who post automotive work on here which impresses me more than the glossy brochures. Advertising is evil

Scott-JL wrote in post #7318191In terms of cost, I meant in order to get that picture working with strobes. How many attempts would it take to get that kind of picture with a moving subject, even at a slow speed? I could spend days there (and still come away with rubbish)

For me, I want to see a good picture with minimal post-processing work. From that video link I mentioned about the Porsches, the basics of Photography just weren't there - wrong white balance, bad lighting position, etc. Although I appreciate Photoshop as a tool, and the power it has, I believe in a better photo to begin with. There are people who post automotive work on here which impresses me more than the glossy brochures. Advertising is evil

I wouldn't disagree that advertising is evil but this 'get it right in camera' mantra I see thrown about just doesn't stack up any more

It easier and good for you to learn how to get some stuff done correctly on the camera but is often quicker and produces a better shot when digital photography is pushed post process

Get with the program, were in the digital age and back in the day the lab boys would doge and burn you prints

Even with a tranny I've retouched images that have been printed large - retouching with old school airbrush and then reshooting the neg when all the elements were together

Advertising is evil it distorts our views of our self image but it is here

yes, I always study from these photographers. But you must know, sometimes it is out of our reach. Like the rigs they used. Commercial rigs, which we can't afford to buy or rent... and assistants, producers, location managers and so on. But you can always be one step behind them. If you really want to be like them then you have yo go commercial.

Thameth wrote in post #7322674Hell Ford wants them posted in as many places as possible. ....

Not sure how true that is... There was talk last summer that they were going to go after anybody who posted a picture of Ford cars and trucks on the internet. Yes that included images on Cardomain.com and other sites where people took pictures of their own cars and posted it.

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